Richard Kuhn
Richard Kuhn | |
---|---|
University of Munich | |
Known for | Carotenoids and Vitamins[1] Isoalloxazine Total synthesis of riboflavin and Vitamin B6 Soman Kuhn–Winterstein reaction |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | University of Heidelberg |
Richard Johann Kuhn (German pronunciation: [ˈʁɪçaʁt ˈkuːn] ⓘ; 3 December 1900 – 31 July 1967) was an Austrian-German biochemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938 "for his work on carotenoids and vitamins".
Biography
Early life
Kuhn was born in
After graduating, Kuhn continued his scientific career, first in Munich, then at the
Research
Kuhn's areas of study included: investigations of theoretical problems of
In 1929 he became Principal of the Institute for Chemistry at the newly founded
In addition to these duties he also served as of Professor of Biochemistry at the
He was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938 for his "work on carotenoids and vitamins," but rejected the prize as Hitler had forbidden German citizens to accept it. In a hand-written letter, he even described the awarding of the prize to a German as an invitation to violate a decree of the Führer.[2][3] He received the award after World War II.[4] Kuhn is also credited with the discovery of the deadly nerve agent Soman in 1944.[5]
Kuhn was editor of Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie from 1948.
Kuhn died in 1967 in Heidelberg, Germany, aged 66.
Nazi era
Kuhn collaborated with high-ranking
In 2005, the Society of German Chemists (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, GDCh) declared their intention to no longer award the Richard Kuhn Medal: "The board of the GDCh intends to discontinue awarding the Medal named after the organic chemist, Nobel Prize laureate of the year 1938 and President of the GDCh in 1964–65, Richard Kuhn. The board thereby draws the consequences out of research on Richard Kuhn's behaviour during National Socialism. Even though the question of whether Kuhn was a convinced National Socialist or just a career-oriented camp follower is not fully answered, he undisputably supported the Nazi-regime in administrative and organizational ways, especially by his scientific work. Despite his scientific achievements, Kuhn is not suitable to serve as a role model, and eponym for an important award, mainly due to his unreflected research on poison gas, but also due to his conduct towards Jewish colleagues."[7]
Honours and awards
- 1938: Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- 1952: Wilhelm Exner Medal
- 1960: Honorary doctorate from the University of Vienna
- 1961: Austrian Decoration for Science and Art
References
- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1938".
- ^ U. Deichmann, "Dem Duce, dem Tenno und unserem Führer ein dreifaches Heil", published in D. Hoffmann and Mark Walker (eds.), "Physiker zwischen Autonomie und Anpassung" (Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2006).
- ^ Sarah Everts, Chemistry In Nazi Germany, Chemical & Engineering News, Volume 91, Issue 37, pp. 30–33, 16 September 2013, American Chemical Society.
- ^ "Nobel Laureates Facts". The Nobel Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ISBN 978-1-4200-4661-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85973-421-6. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- ^ Nachrichten aus der Chemie. 54: 514. May 2006.
- Shampo, M. A.; Kyle R A (October 2000). "Richard Kuhn – Nobel Prize for work on carotenoids and vitamins". PMID 11040844.
- Baer, H. H. (1969). Richard Kuhn; 1900–1967. Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry. Vol. 24. pp. 1–12. PMID 4909158.[this reference does not seem to say what it is claimed to]
External links
- Grandin, Karl, ed. (1938). "Richard Kuhn Biography". Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- 1938 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Richard Kuhn on Nobelprize.org